Thanksgiving In Prayer 11-15-99

“THANKSGIVING IN PRAYER”

Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus

·         Paul is saying rejoice, rejoice, chained to two Roman soldiers of the Praetorian guard

·         Joy is internal – a fruit of the spirit

·         Happiness is external – of the world

·         How do we express joy in the circumstance? By the indwelling H.S. in our heart

Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV)36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: ”‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

·         Spirit, soul, and body are the triune nature of man, as God is triune

·         The spirit is the center, or the guts

·         Worship is not from the shoulders up

Isaiah 65:14 (NIV)14 My servants will sing out of the joy of their hearts, but you will cry out from anguish of heart and wail in brokenness of spirit.

·         Plan A is to choose life, and Plan B is the brokenness of spirit

·         We are eternal spiritual beings having a temporary physical experience

Hebrews 4:16 (KJV)16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

·         We can not live the Christian life on our own, and we were not meant to.

·         Worship from the heart, not the lips

Proverbs 20:27 (KJV)27 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

Proverbs 23:26 (NIV)26 My son, give me your heart and let your eyes keep to my ways,

Jeremiah 29:10-14 (NIV)10 This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity.  I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”